Scholarships and Grants for Undergraduates
At The University of Akron, we’re dedicated to making your education affordable. Each year, our students receive over $260 million in financial aid, and more than 86% of undergraduates benefit from scholarships, grants, and other forms of assistance.
Completing the FAFSA is the first step to access federal and institutional aid—including scholarships, grants, and work-study opportunities. Use UA’s School Code: 003123 when applying.
Note: The following scholarship information applies to new, incoming students for the 2026–2027 academic year.
Scholarship Opportunities
All scholarships require full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours per semester
| Scholarship/Grant | Award Range | Who is Eligible | How to Apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merit Scholarship Awards | Varies | Incoming first-year and transfer students based on GPA and curriculum. | Automatic consideration with admission. |
| Williams Honors College Scholarships | $1,500–$2,000 | New and transfer students admitted to Honors based on academics. | Apply to the Williams Honors College. Deadline: April 1. |
| UA Institutional Grants | Varies | Students who complete the FAFSA. | Apply to UA and file FAFSA. |
| Choose Ohio First STEMM Scholarship | Up to $5,500 | Ohio residents majoring in STEMM fields. | Apply at uakron.edu/oars/cof. Deadline: Jan. 31. |
| Goodyear Driving Opportunity Scholarship | Covers tuition and fees (≈$13,530/year) | First-generation and low-income students. | Apply here. |
| Innovation Generation Scholarship | Covers tuition + up to $428.40/semester fee | Akron Public School grads with qualifying GPAs and FAFSA. | Automatically awarded by UA and APS. |
| Making Akron Possible (MAP) Grant | Covers remaining tuition and fees after other aid | Ohio residents with family AGI ≤ $85,000, admitted Fall 2026. | File FAFSA and accept all eligible need-based aid. |
| Provost’s Scholarship for Transfer Students | $1,000–$5,000 | Transfer students from accredited colleges. | Automatic consideration with admission. |
| Smart Choice Scholarship | Varies | Students reapplying after prior admission to UA. | Automatically considered with new application. |
Renewal Criteria for Scholarships
To maintain eligibility, students must remain enrolled full-time for up to eight consecutive semesters.
University-awarded scholarships can be applied to any charges on the student’s bill, unless otherwise noted. This may include:
Tuition and general fee (called the Akron fee)
Course fees
All-in book bundle fees
Residence hall fees
Meal plan and dining dollars
Yes, if you have remaining, unused scholarship funds, you can use all, or a portion, of those funds for a meal plan and dining dollars. You can read the Guidelines for Use of Excess University Scholarship Awards to Purchase Meal Plans for more details.
Scholarships awarded at the time of admission require students to maintain good academic standing (2.0 GPA) and not be dismissed. Private/endowed scholarships (named scholarships) often have different GPA requirements that will be monitored by the Office of Student Financial Aid or the college that makes the award.
Scholarships awarded at the time of admission are usually awarded for four years (eight semesters), or until the student completes a bachelor’s degree. Private/endowed scholarships are awarded annually and are not automatically renewed.
The Merit Scholarship awarded at the time of admission is a commitment from the University to provide scholarships totaling the offered amount for up to four years at UA. All, or a portion, of the Merit Scholarship is provided through the generous support of donors, alumni and friends of the University. You will note that your merit scholarship award may change to a different name, but with the same total amount awarded. There is no impact on your overall award; only the name(s) will be different.
Why Choose UA Scholarships?
UA students achieve more with affordable education and personalized scholarship opportunities.
86% Students receiving aid
Most students qualify
Over 86% of UA undergraduates receive some form of financial aid or scholarships each year.
$260M Annual support
Financial assistance awarded
Each year, UA students receive more than $260 million in grants, scholarships, and other aid.
Rewarding excellence
Merit scholarships
UA rewards academic achievement through competitive merit-based scholarships for incoming and current students.
Personalized support
Financial guidance
Our dedicated financial aid advisors help every student find the right funding path to reach their goals.
Financial Aid by Student Type
Explore financial assistance options tailored for different types of University of Akron students. Find scholarships, assistantships, and funding opportunities that fit your academic path.
Learn about funding options for master’s and doctoral students, including assistantships.
Explore scholarships and funding options for new and current international students.
Get details on tuition assistance and scholarship opportunities for Akron Law students.